Serena Williams and her beautiful baby daughter are on the cover of February’s issue of Vogue, while inside the magazine is the tennis legend’s story about her troublesome delivery, comeback to tennis and the way motherhood has influenced her attitude.
My favorite part of the interview is its very end, i.e. Williams’ inspiring quote:
I’ve been playing tennis since before my memories started. At my age, I see the finish line. And when you see the finish line, you don’t slow down. You speed up.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams has no intention to retire, even though she can imagine herself enjoying peaceful time with her four-and-a-half-month-old Olympia, now the youngest person on the cover of Vogue. The 36-year-old Williams is chasing history, as countless records aren’t enough to the tennis champion.
Maybe this goes without saying, but it needs to be said in a powerful way: I absolutely want more Grand Slams. I’m well aware of the record books, unfortunately. It’s not a secret that I have my sights on 25 [Grand Slam titles]. And actually, I think having a baby might help. When I’m too anxious I lose matches, and I feel like a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born. Knowing I’ve got this beautiful baby to go home to makes me feel like I don’t have to play another match. I don’t need the money or the titles or the prestige. I want them, but I don’t need them. That’s a different feeling for me.
Even though tennis history books are on Williams’s to-do list, more children are as well, although there is no rush. Moreover, she would probably enjoy mentoring an emerging player at some point and Russian Daria Kasatkina stands out as her favorite.
The American isn’t ready to defend her Australian Open title, but she’s planning to return at Indian Wells in March, when she will also debut a new clothing line on her website.
She’s really cute.